Locked closure for fuel tanks



Oct. 6, 1931. H. L. ROBERTS 1,326,023

LOCKED CLOSURE FOR FUEL- TANKS Filed Nov. 19, 192 9 2 Sheets-Sheer. 1

In ventor I I g I Ayyy .Z. @ZWZ J Attorney Oct. 6, 1931. H. L. ROBERTS 1,826,023

'LQCKED CLOSURE FOR FUEL TANKS I Filed Nov. 19. 1929 ZSheets-Sheet 2 Inventor flax-I y foierir- A itomey racemes oer; a rest I stares HARRY L. RGBERTS, 0F KEOKTJ'K, IQWA LOCKED CLOSURE F03 FUEL TANKS Application filed November 19 1929. Serial No. 408,294.

This-invention relates to an improved key controlled lock equipped closure which is especially, but not necessarily, adapted to be used in association with filler necks such as a are found on present day gasoline tanks and radiators of motor vehicles.

The invention resides in the provision of an attaching neck provided with a dome-like liingedly mounted closing cap, togetherwith .10 key controlled locking means mounted on the cap and cooperable with suitable keeper means on the neck.

The arrangement is such as to provide a construction susceptible of eflicient use either 15 upon the filler neck of a radiator or upon the filler neck of a gasoline tank, the device being either in the nature of an attachment for appliration to existing necks, or susceptible of being built on at the time of manufacture.

The specific details and their relative association and cooperation will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in section showingthe improved closure built on to a gasoline tank,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a top plan view with the disklike shield swung to a position for uncovering the keyhole,

Figure 4c is a View in section and elevation showing the device in the natureof an attachment fastened permanently on the screw threaded neck of a gasoline tank.

The invention per se comprises a cylind rical body portion 5 which may be defined as a neck which is open at its opposite end and provided at its upper end with an inturned flange 6 with which a packing ring 7 is associated as seen in Figure 1. M

This flange provides a seat for the ring 12 and functions as a keeper in a manner to be hereinafter described. The device as before r stated may be in the nature of an attachment or installed at the time of manufacture of the tank. When built on the tank it'is provided with an attaching flange as at 8 in Figure 1. When however it is in the nature of an attachment, the neck is internally screw threaded and then screwed on the existing filler neck 9 of the conventional tank 10.

in addition it is riveted in place as at 11 to insure against removal. in both forms of the invention reference characters 12 designate a dome like cap having a skirt 13 which fits down over the neck and provided with an upstanding crown portion 14. The skirt 13 loosely fits the neck so that the cap can be swung to open and closed position without binding on the neck.

The numeral 15 designates generally a pin piyotally connecting the cap to a flap 5, said flap secured to the neck 5. The portion 1a is constructed to accommodate the barrel 16 of a lock. As seen in Figure 3 the reference character 17 designates a lock barrel provided with a removable key 18 and each owner is provided with a separate key.

011 the under side of the cap the barrel is provided with a crank 19 pivotally connected as at 20 to the end of a sliding retainer bolt 21.

As seen in Figure 2, the underside of the cap is provided with spaced lugs 22 through which the bolt is slidable and a coil spring 23 surrounds the bolt between the lugs. The tension ofthe spring is such as to automatically project the tapered end of the bolt beneath the keeper flange 6 as shown in Fig. 1.

However the bolts may be retracted by rotating the barrel when'the key 18 is placed therein through the keyhole in an obvious manner. Incidentally, the beveled end of the bolt constitutes a cam which snaps automatically down over the flange 6 when the closing cap is swung to a. closed position.

I found it advisable to provide a disk like shield 24 which covers the keyhole 17 and is pivotally mounted in a suitable manner as at 52,5. .This has a peripheral finger 26 which facilitates operation. When the key is withdrawn the shield is rotated to cover the keyhole and to prevent the accumulation of dirt therein.

From the foregoing description and drawings it will be seen that I have evolved and produced a novel closure which is such as to permit automatic locking when the closure is swungxilown to closing position. The caps cannot o ned without iproper keys.

- It cannot lost or left 0 as it is permanently hinged to the neck. The arrangement 'tan secures the safeguarding of fuel supply, is easily opened and closed. and locks instantly, is neat in appearance and will minimize unauthorized use of the car which is equipped therewith.

It is obvious that if the car is stolen, the fuel supply will soon be exhausted and this closing cap would have to be removed in order to ut an" additional su ply of fuel in the The operator oft e car without a key would immediately be under sus icion at the first filling station, especially i the closing cag had been tampered with or disrupted.

or the authorized owner of the car however convenience is promoted by simply handing the filling station attendant a key and instructing him to unlock the cap. He then returns the key and will fill the tank allowing the cap to drop down to closed position causing bolt 21 to automatically snap in locked position.

Then too, the device serves as a guard against stealingv of gasoline while the car is parked. These and many other features and advantages of the invention have doubtless been made a parent from the foregoing description an drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

In a structure of the class described, a filler neck provided at its top end portion with a flat inturned kee er flange, a cover having a marginal de n ing surface telescopica 1y fitting over t e filler end of said neck and hingedly connected thereto, a pair of eye lugs formed on the under side of the cover, aspring pressed bolt-slidably mounted in said lugs for lock engagement with said keeper flange a lock barrel rotatably arranged in the cover and a crank at the lower end of the barrel to which the inner end of the bolt is pivoted.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY L. ROBERTS. 

